Anodyne Demo

Old video games such as Zelda left quite the imprint on an entire generation of gamers, thanks to the complex gameplay and the intricate story that made the experience that much more memorable. However, there are plenty of modern games that manage to achieve this as well, although maybe they are not as appealing to the older fan base that grew up during the 8-bit era.

Anodyne is pretty much a Zelda clone, although it also manages to be original and pleasant at the same time. The game features a different kind of approach to the genre and it goes pretty far from what you might see nowadays in the industry. However, at its core, it should be more than familiar to those who enjoyed the 8-bit revolution in video games.

Story-wise, everything is coated in a thick layer of surrealism, which means that events take place in the main character’s head. His name is Young and he is guided by a voice called Sage, in an attempt to find out where he is and what is he looking for. Not only that, but in order for the matters to adhere to the classic RPG/adventure rules, a great evil must be stopped as well, so you get to fight a variety of unpleasant creatures along the way.

When it comes to actually playing the game, you’ll notice that everything is as smooth and straightforward as possible, without tricky controls to ruin your fun. Not only that, but everything else is clear as well, because you can collect items, beat enemies, find special cards, and generally make use of items using only one button, which is both efficient and simple at the same time.

The simplicity is present in the graphics engine as well, which is designed to look old and basic, yet colorful enough to convey the right emotions and atmosphere. Not only that, but a sublime soundtrack plays in the background too, which keeps you focused and relaxed. Unlike the graphics, though, the music is a bit more advanced, from a qualitative point of view.

In the end, Anodyne is the kind of game that stays with you for a very long time if you manage to finish, especially thanks to the story and the witty dialogue. However, the gameplay can be a tad too repetitive and lacking in substance, so you need to be prepared for some boring sections as well.